Fold-up two-position rear view mirror for a vehicle

• US 5,210,652 A
• Filed: 04/28/1992
• Issued: 05/11/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Walter E. Perkinson
• Original Assignee: Walter E. Perkinson
• Inventors: Perkinson, Walter E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnold, Bruce Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAFER, RICKY D
• Application Number:
  US07/875,067
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 359/841, 359/843, 359/844, 359/872, 359/873, 359/874, 359/876, 359/877, 248/479, 248/481, 248/484, 248/485, 248/486, 248/487, 248/549, 248/900
• US Class Current: 359/841
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence

Abstract

An inside rear view mirror system (10) for motor vehicle (18) employs a two-position rotary-action solenoid (16) electronically activated from a switch (54) mounted on the steering wheel spoke (52) for momentarily locating the rear view mirror (36) in a down position when the switch (54) is depressed and releasing the solenoid (16) to rotate mirror (36) to a normally up position when the switch (54) is released.

Claims

1. In combination with a motor vehicle an interior, electronically-operated, foldable, rear view mirror system located inside the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, the system comprised of:

a metal base having a first leg and a second leg, the first and the second legs generally perpendicular to one another;

first attachment means for attaching the first leg of said metal base at or near the upper end of a windshield;

a rotary-action solenoid with a rotating mounting plate thereon;

second attachment means for attaching said rotary action solenoid to the second leg of said metal base;

a mounting arm with a first end and a second end including means to attach at the first end thereof said mounting arm to the mounting plate of said solenoid;

a rotatable joint attached to the second end of said mounting arm;

a mirror housing for attachment to said rotatable joint;

a mirror dimensioned to engage said housing; and

a headliner having walls defining a storage pocket dimensioned to receive said mirror housing;

wherein said solenoid maintains said mirror in a normally stowed position with said mirror against a headliner of the interior of the vehicle and when activated rotates said mirror to a down or use position the rotation of said mirror being in an arc, the plane of which is parallel to a plane bisecting the motor vehicle laterally.

2. The device in claim 1 further including a momentary switch wired in series with said solenoid to hold said mirror in the down position when said switch is engaged, and to return said mirror to the stowed position in said storage pocket of the headliner when said switch is disengaged.

3. The device as described in claim 2 wherein said momentary switch is located proximate to the rim of the steering wheel of the motor vehicle.

4. The device in claim 3 wherein said solenoid is capable of rotating said mounting arm in the range of 70°

to 120°

.

5. The device in claim 4 wherein said solenoid is an intermittent type solenoid and is energized through said momentary switch by an electrical system of the motor vehicle.

6. A foldable, rear view mirror system, electronically operated by the electrical system of a motor vehicle, for locating inside the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, the system comprising:

a metal base;

first attachment means for attaching said metal base at or near the head of a windshield of the motor vehicle;

an intermittent, rotary action solenoid with a rotating plate mounted thereon;

second attachment means for attaching said rotary action solenoid to said metal base;

a mounting arm with a first end and a second end including at the first end thereof attachment means to attach said mounting arm to the rotating plate of said solenoid;

a rotatable joint attached to the second end of said mounting arm;

a mirror housing for attachment to said rotatable joint;

a mirror dimensioned to engage said mirror housing;

a stowage compartment dimensioned to substantially receive said mirror and said mirror housing therein, said stowage compartment located in the headliner of the motor vehicle; and

a momentary switch wired in series with said rotary solenoid to hold said mirror in a down position when said switch is engaged and to return said mirror to said stowage compartment for maintaining said mirror in the stowed position when said momentary switch is disengaged.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said rotary solenoid is capable of operating in the range of 70°

to 120°

.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said momentary switch is of the button-activated type and is located proximate of the rim of the steering wheel of the motor vehicle.